An investigation into the assessment of surface finish by microwave reflection

Abstract

Non-contact methods are ideal for in-process monitoring of surface finish. In this context, the application of microwave reflection for the assessment of roughness assumes significance. It is well known that surface roughness affects the reflection of microwaves, and the energy loss in their transmission is considerably influenced by the finish of the wave guides. Experimental investigations were conducted with a sweep oscillator and reflectometer to find the feasibility of this technique in monitoring the roughness of manufactured surfaces. A number of surface specimens produced with different machining operations were measured for the return loss, and these compared with the normal roughness values. This paper deals with the experiments conducted and results obtained in these investigations.